空中分布式作战概念及关键技术分析

空中分布式作战是美军为应对“反介入/区域拒止”挑战提出的重要作战概念，具备分布式、智能化、高动态、大规模等特点，是未来美军空中作战平台在体系支持下作战样式的发展趋势。首先，按照提出时间梳理了美军空中分布式作战概念及典型研究项目，分析了空中分布式作战内涵、特点、工作机理以及发展趋势；然后，结合空中作战平台典型构型，提出了全域作战体系支撑下的空中分布式作战样式设想；最后，设计了空中分布式作战体系技术框架，并讨论了相应的关键技术。     

Direct ink writing of vancomycin-loaded polycaprolactone/ polyethylene oxide/ hydroxyapatite 3D scaffolds

Novel inks were formulated by dissolving polycaprolactone (PCL), a hydrophobic polymer, in organic solvent systems; polyethylene oxide (PEO) was incorporated to extend the range of hydrophilicity of the system. Hydroxyapatite (HAp) with a weight ratio of 55–85% was added to the polymer-based solution to mimic the material composition of natural bone tissue. The direct ink writing (DIW) technique was applied to extrude the formulated inks to fabricate the predesigned tissue scaffold structures; the influence of HAp concentration was investigated. The results indicate that in comparison to other inks containing HAp (55%, 75%, and 85%w/w), the ink containing 65% w/w HAp had faster ink recovery behavior; the fabricated scaffold had a rougher surface as well as better mechanical properties and wettability. It is noted that the 65% w/w HAp concentration is similar to the inorganic composition of natural bone tissue. The elastic modulus values of PCL/PEO/HAp scaffolds were in the range of 4–12 MPa; the values were dependent on the HAp concentration. Furthermore, vancomycin as a model drug was successfully encapsulated in the PCL/PEO/HAp composite scaffold for drug release applications. This paper presents novel drug-loaded PCL/PEO/HAp inks for 3D scaffold fabrication using the DIW printing technique for potential bone scaffold applications.     

Simultaneous fractionation of multiple classes of polyphenols from honeybush tea using solid-phase extraction

The structural diversity of polyphenols and the inherent limitations of current extraction techniques pose a challenge to extract polyphenols using a simple and green method. Hence, in this study, a method was developed to simultaneously fractionate multiple classes of polyphenols by only varying ethanol-water solutions. Honeybush tea, which is rich in polyphenols, was selected as a model for this study. Solvent extraction followed by solid-phase extraction (SPE) was developed to obtain a polyphenol-rich fraction from six honeybush samples. Based on a gradient elution programme (10%, 30%, 50%, 70% and 90% (v/v) ethanol-water solution) of SPE, the Strata X cartridge showed a better recovery of most targeted polyphenols under 0.9 mL of the drying volume and 1 mL min⁻¹ of the dispensing speed. The elution programme for fractionating most polyphenols was as follows: single elution with 50% ethanol, followed by twice elution with 70% ethanol. The antioxidant capacity was used to analyse the differences among the polyphenol-rich fractions from six honeybush samples. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that unfermented C. genistoides (GG) has the greatest antioxidant capacity among the honeybush species studied. Additionally, mangiferin, isomangiferin and vicenin-2 were the main contributors to the antioxidant capacity in six honeybush fractions according to the correlation study.     

化脓隐秘杆菌对奶牛脾脏组织细胞凋亡的影响

目的观察化脓隐秘杆菌自然感染奶牛脾脏组织的病理学变化,并检测组织细胞中Caspase-3、Caspase-8、Caspase-9、Bax和Bcl-2的表达,以确定化脓隐秘杆菌感染对奶牛脾脏组织细胞凋亡的影响。方法筛检2头化脓隐秘杆菌阴性健康奶牛(对照)和5头自然感染化脓隐秘杆菌的奶牛,收集脾脏组织样本,采用本课题组国家发明专利方法,进行石蜡制片和HE染色,观察脾脏组织病理学变化;采用免疫组织化学方法与本课题组国家发明专利方法相结合,检测奶牛脾脏组织中与细胞正负凋亡相关的调节基因Bax和Bcl-2及凋亡通路蛋白Caspase-3、Caspase-8和Caspase-9的表达情况。结果肉眼观察可见化脓隐秘杆菌自然感染奶牛脾脏肿大、柔软,有出血;病理组织学观察可见脾脏组织出血,水肿,淋巴细胞数量减少,有坏死;脾脏淋巴细胞Caspase-3、Caspase-9和Bax表达阳性,与对照组相比,差异有统计学意义(P <0.05),少量淋巴细胞Caspase-8和Bcl-2表达阳性,与对照组相比,差异无统计学意义(P> 0.05)。结论化脓隐秘杆菌能够引起奶牛脾脏淋巴细胞发生坏死和凋亡;可通过调节脾脏中淋巴细胞Bcl-2家族的活性,引起其Bax和Bcl-2比率改变,增加淋巴细胞线粒体内外膜通透性,导致与凋亡相关因子的释放,激活Caspase-9,进一步激活Caspase-3,从而引起脾脏中淋巴细胞发生凋亡。     

ROS-Mediated Anti-Tumor Effect of Coptidis Rhizoma against Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Hep3B Cells and Xenografts

Coptidis Rhizoma is the dried rhizome from the Coptis chinensis Franch. that has been shown to have a number of beneficial pharmacological properties including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer effects. However, the anti-cancer effects of Coptidis Rhizoma on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the anti-cancer properties of Coptidis Rhizoma ethanol extract (CR) in HCC Hep3B cells and in a xenograft mouse model. Our results showed that the CR significantly inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis in Hep3B cells through increased expression of Bcl-2 associated x-protein (Bax) and cleavage of poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP), reduced expression of Bcl-2, and activated caspases. CR also increased the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), which caused a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP, ΔΨm) and activation of the mitochondria-mediated intrinsic apoptosis pathway. Moreover, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a ROS inhibitor, markedly blocked the effects of CR on apoptotic pathways. CR also induced the expression of light chain 3 (LC3)-I/II, a key autophagy regulator, whereas CR-mediated autophagy was significantly suppressed by NAC. In addition, pre-treatment with NAC perfectly attenuated the inhibition of cell invasion and migration of CR-stimulated Hep3B cells. Furthermore, oral administration of CR suppressed Hep3B tumor growth in xenograft mice without toxicity, alterations to body weight, or changes in hematological and biochemical profiles. Taken together, our findings suggest that CR has anti-tumor effects that result from ROS generation, and may be a potential pharmacological intervention for HCC.     

Phase constitution,microstructure and mechanical properties of a Ni-based superalloy specially designed for additive manufacturing

In this study, a kind of Ni-based superalloy specially designed for additive manufacturing (AM) was investigated. Thermo-Calc simulation and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis were used to determine phases and their transformation temperature. Experimental specimens were prepared by laser metal deposition (LMD) and traditional casting method. Microstructure, phase constitution and mechanical properties of the alloy were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission scanning electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and tensile tests. The results show that this alloy contains two basic phases, γ/γ', in addition to these phases, at least two secondary phases may be present, such as MC carbides and Laves phases. Furthermore, the as-deposited alloy has finer dendrite, its mean primary dendrite arm space (PDAS) is about 30-45 μm, and the average size of γ' particles is 100-150 nm. However, the dendrite size of the as-cast alloy is much larger and its PDAS is 300-500 μm with secondary and even third dendrite arms. Correspondingly, the alloy displays different tensile behavior with different processing methods, and the as-deposited specimen shows better ultimate tensile stress (1,085.7±51.7 MPa), yield stress (697±19.5 MPa) and elongation (25.8%±2.2%) than that of the as-cast specimen. The differences in mechanical properties of the alloy are due to the different morphology and size of dendrites, γ', and Laves phase, and the segregation of elements, etc. Such important information would be helpful for alloy application as well as new alloy development.     

E7766, a Macrocycle-Bridged Stimulator of Interferon Genes (STING) Agonist with Potent Pan-Genotypic Activity

A strategy for creating potent and pan-genotypic stimulator of interferon genes (STING) agonists is described. Locking a bioactive U-shaped conformation of cyclic dinucleotides by introducing a transannular macrocyclic bridge between the nucleic acid bases leads to a topologically novel macrocycle-bridged STING agonist (MBSA). In addition to substantially enhanced potency, the newly designed MBSAs, exemplified by clinical candidate E7766 , exhibit broad pan-genotypic activity in all major human STING variants. E7766 is shown to have potent antitumor activity with long lasting immune memory response in a mouse liver metastatic tumor model. Two complementary stereoselective synthetic routes to E7766 are also described.